Please, please help me style a Toast Bryn dress so that I don't look like a sack

[helpmestylethisdress]

In a moment of madness I bought a Toast Bryn dress. Photo attached for those unfamiliar (it isn't this exact dress but the same style). I'm not sure what possessed me, the only time I wear dresses is in 35+ degrees heat on holiday, but I have it now and I want to wear the bastard thing for a special occasion I have coming up in a few weeks. It does fit well and I think is as flattering as a dress is going to look on my lumpy, untoned size 12/14 middle aged body with zero waist (thanks HRT).

The trouble is I have no idea whatsoever how to style it, in particular shoes/boots. Toast is no help at all because they style these dresses with socks and sandals, which I am not courageous enough to even consider.

Would slightly chunky leather boots work? Can I wear tights to cover pasty legs?

I think I'll need a coat of some description. I have an oversized boiled wool coat in a similar shape to the second photo, but the fabric means it looks less formal. It would probably come to the same length as the dress though, which might be a bit awkward?

HELP ME!!!

I wear a lot of toast. You may feel dressed up if you're not used to it, took me a while to get used to it, but it will feel and look fabulous! Their things can be really quite smart - casual and very comfortable and sophisticated.

Your old timberlands might actually be OK, and they're worn in. Solivair are very heavy in comparison and take some wearing in. Virginia DMs are comfortable straight out of the box, like trainers.

Re the coat, I get what you mean about the indigo denim, toast do a lot of that so it goes well with their things. Have a look on vinted for a toast indigo chore. Alternatively, I have an item on theirs that's meant to be a button down, midi, indigo denim dress, but I bought it to wear as a coat over dresses. It has pockets and a belt ( I had to add belt loops). It's what I would choose to wear to your day out with that dress. Love that dress op!

@helpmestylethisdress , there's one on vinted, her pics aren't great so I've included a pic of mine. Same jacket/dress thing, mine the one with the white back ground for the colour reference.

@helpmestylethisdress , the Astronaut Boot in gaucho are IMO better than the Derby boots because they end a little lower on the legs.

I have the ones that Toast did in burgundy rub-off and they get compliments.

Which Toast Bryn dress is it, @helpmestylethisdress ? You said olive green I think. One of these?

Are you tall, ie does it hit you mid-calf as my Bryn dress does, or lower?

If it's a chilly day (& who knows in April?!), your coat looks perfect. Agree that the chore-type jacket is the right vibe with it if warmer. A long T-shirt/fine jumper below is a good idea to help bridge changeable weather (though post-menopause if I'm going to be indoors & outdoors on the same day, I prefer my layers on top!).

Did you see that the White Stuff one that was posted also comes in khaki (I prefer indigo to lighter denim too), though I've never worn White Stuff so can't pass further comment. Not sure if it's the right shade for your dress though?

Seasalt (if you're not a hater!) has lots of chore jackets, some on their eBay outlet.

I have bought some chore jackets by Folk Clothing for my partner (an olive & grey check one, & an indigo denim one). One of the benefits of getting fatter is that they now fit me perfectly & look great with my Toast dresses. He hardly gets a look-in ... 😁!!!

I would wear this dress with clogs and a hard-core cardi

Ps, please don't get the sheepskin coat from Vinted, OP - you will look like a used car salesman, or Dennis Waterman in Minder or The Sweeney.

As someone else said, also no to any of those slouch/suede brown boots IMO. I wear mine with chunky ankle boots, lace-up or pull-on (Zadig & Voltaire Joe, Penelope Chilvers etc), opaque tights & wool socks in a different colour.

I like it. It looks a bit baggy in a couple of pictures, but if not it's an excellent reduction & very versatile.

Sorry I missed your comment that the dress is mid-shin on you - so longer than on the model? I wouldn't wear trainers or anything without tights at this time of year either, OP, as my legs are also winter-white - & hairy - & I'm keeping that way til my spring wax 😁!!!

I wear a fair bit of Toast. Have styled similar with a coloured tight and Mary Jane’s. I got the Mary Jane’s in Zara. I have black and burgundy.

or these are like the Toast ones but I bought in brown
https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/vicenza-bow-mary-jane-flats4?color=070

or a clean decent trainer- no tights.

My first thought was Arthur Daley.

Personally i wear the little invisible trainer socks in my trainers.

I know socks are 'in' but i look a million squillion times better with bare ankles. I wear Gazells i look utterly ridiculous in chunky trainers.

I think socks look silly with skirts/dresses, unless with boots.

I think bare ankles look silly when it's cold, especially when the ankles have turned blue.

I’m not daft enough to do that either!

I don't mind blue ankles. I'm allowed blue - I had my colours done.
I've been wearing shorts all winter.

Would you honestly be able to walk around all day in a town/city in clogs? I can't even wear my gorgeous embroidered Penelope Chilvers ones from the bedroom to the loo without feeling my toes warp from the effort of keeping them on ...

What's a hard-core cardie ...?!!!

Like the dress but why oh why is a made in China viscose dress over £200??? I never understand that about Toast stuff.

I would style it with clogs and tights. I’d wear a chunky maxi cardigan/coatigan or a denim jacket, and take a fine knit blanket cashmere scarf for extra warmth if needed.

Toast’s good for people with jaunty frames and no boobs, anyone else looks like a sack in their stuff IMO (sorry). If you can’t get the styling right, it might just be that the cut and shape doesn’t suit you - you may not be doing anything wrong.

@Franjipanl8r, I don't think that's fair but
I rarely see anything that might suit me (personality/colour/style/figure-wise).

I used to hanker after so many of their offerings.

I'm shortish, have boobs and have an athletic sort of frame. The clothes look too drab, too loose and voluminous for me.

I could see myself in Margaret Howell clothes.
I don't have the budget for either.

dont know if this helps but I wear all sorts of sack type dresses and barrel legged jeans with Blundstone boots - the most comfy boot ever!
https://www.blundstone.co.uk

Why are they so wide? I think they look horrible.

You might be better asking on the Toast thread. Lots of different bodies there.
some of us even have boobs.

Navy kitten-heels/court shoes with pointed toe, navy purse&handbag with yellow/mustard trim, mustard and navy hair fascinator/hairband/pillbox hat, or just navy/mustard yellow, jewellery - A pop of colour with red, or gold jewellery (sparkly costume jewellery, or real), and maybe a slim navy belt with buckle? Very subtle, natural makeup in neutral, smoky, and peach tones (if you wear make-up). Branchy/leafy pattern on handbag&purse, maybe.

Read the OPs later posts - this is absolutely not a kitten heels or fascinator sort of thing.

I absolutely detest kitten heels but they’re recommended on every thread on here.

Perfect for just a day out - nice lunch, museum, a bit of pottering, casual dinner.